Research

• In 1940, 'Stranger on the Third Floor' (directed by Boris Ingster) was released, this is most commonly referred to as the first Film Noir. 
• Orson Welles's 'Touch of Evil' released in 1958 is most commonly referred to as the last Film Noir of the classic era not including the Neo-Noir era.
• The two archetypal characters in Film Noir are the 'Femme Fatal' and the 'Fall Guy' some key characteristics include:

Femme Fatal; Attractive

                         Seductive

                         Manipulative

                         Innocent exterior

Fall Guy; Questionable morality

                 Down-and-out 

                 Trustworthy and Loyal

                 Unattached/ Single

• Some other characters include: 

                                                 Hardboiled detectives

                                                 Corrupt policemen 

                                                 Jealous husbands

                                                 Intrepid claims adjusters

                                                 Down-and-out writers

• Key hallmarks and Narrative devices of the Film Noir style include:

Urban setting                                                                                                                
Cigarette smoking

Voice-overs

Dark themes - murder, crime etc.

Low-key, single source lighting

Influences of German expressionism

Flashbacks

Dutch angles

Disorientating reflections/ Blinds

Deep focus/ Depth of field

Skewed camera effects/ Shadows

Low and wide camera angles

• Some general moods/ themes expressed in Film Noir are; Murder, disloyalty, crime, isolation, alienation, adultery, passion, bleak outlooks, cynicism and suspicion.
• Key directors in this genre are: John Huston, Otto Preminger, Billy Wilder, Nicholas Ray and Fritz Lang.
• Neo-Noir films came after the classical Noir era and so are much more modern in style as well as time frame, some of the most famous Neo-Noirs include; Lone Star (1996), Blade Runner (1982), Brick (2000), Body Heat (1981), Basic Instinct (1992), L.A. Confidential (1997) and Chinatown (1974). 
• Neo Noir definition: A style following some characteristics of classical Film Noir of modern motion pictures, but with updated themes and motives and improved quality filming.